The Captain's Daughter

by Jennifer Delamere

  “Actually, I think I do.” It might pain him to admit it, but he and Ada had never truly been right for each other. “Patrick’s been telling me for weeks that my problem wasn’t a broken heart, it was wounded pride.”

  “Because of the husband I chose?” She smiled. “He’s no dashing soldier, but he is a solid, feet-firmly-on-the-ground kind of person, and he’s perfect for me. You, on the other hand, need someone who has your wanderlust, your fearlessness, and your faith.”

  “Now that we’ve narrowed down the qualifications, perhaps I’ll take out an advertisement.”

  They both smiled at the joke. But in truth, Nate wasn’t going to look for someone else. His course was set another way now. He was going back to India.

  And he was going alone.

  Rosalyn stood at the platform, her whole being alight with anticipation as the train screeched to a halt. Never one to waste a moment’s time, Julia was one of the first people to step off the train.

  She was at the far end of the platform, but Rosalyn saw her instantly. To Rosalyn’s eye, her sister’s confident step and the alert way she took in everything around her set her apart from the crowd. Julia paused for a moment to get her bearings, then began to walk in Rosalyn’s direction, joining smoothly in the flow of her fellow passengers spilling out of all the carriages. She strode up the platform as if she owned the entire station.

  “Julia!” Rosalyn cried, walking swiftly toward her sister.

  Julia’s expressive face lit up with a wide smile, and she ran forward, threading her way through the crowd. The moment they reached each other, Julia enveloped Rosalyn in a hearty embrace despite the carpetbag she was carrying. “Oh, my dear Roz, how I’ve missed you!”

  “I can’t believe you came all the way to London,” Rosalyn breathed. “But I’m so glad.”

  Julia gave her another fierce hug before pushing her to arm’s length to get a good look at her. “How old you look,” she pronounced.

  Rosalyn cocked an eyebrow. “I hope you mean ‘mature,’ not ‘aged.’”

  “Well, of course, dear sister.” She gave a light tweak to Rosalyn’s chin. “However, you seem none the worse for wear, despite your recent adventures—which you only hinted at in your letter.” She scrutinized Rosalyn’s face. “How are you really?”

  “I am well.” Rosalyn blinked against stinging tears. I am so much better now that you are here, she wanted to add, but she kept those words to herself, remembering how easily Julia’s sisterly compassion could evaporate if they veered into maudlin territory. “I have so much to tell you. And I’m curious to know what the business you spoke of in your letter is—”

  “Time enough for all that.” Julia took Rosalyn’s arm. “For now, you must direct me to the ladies’ lounge, for I’ve some personal business that needs immediate attention. I drank too much tea this morning, and I thought I might burst on the train.”

  Rosalyn had to grin. Her sister never hesitated to speak of matters that would leave others blushing. Perhaps it was because she was a nurse and discussions of bodily functions were part of her daily routine.

  While Julia busied herself in the ladies’ retiring room, Rosalyn waited in the seating area reserved for ladies and kept watch over Julia’s carpetbag. Thinking of Nate’s warning about Mick, Rosalyn looked warily around her. Today, as sunlight poured through the arched glass ceiling of the station, she saw only people who had a legitimate reason for being there: clerks, businessmen, passengers, and well-wishers who had come to send them off. There was nothing of the sinister mood that had pervaded the place the last time she was here. Rosalyn was glad she had opted to come on her own. She could not allow fear to dictate her actions.

  “All done!” Julia announced, striding up to her. “My, but this is a very nice railway station. Of course, I expected nothing less of London.” She picked up her carpetbag. “Shall we find a good place to chat and share our stories? According to this map I brought with me, Hyde Park is nearby. I would love to see it! And we must find something to eat, too. I’m positively famished.”

  It didn’t take long to reach Hyde Park. Along the way, they stopped at a baker for meat pies and bottles of lemonade. They ate their impromptu picnic while seated on a bench near Kensington Gardens. The air was cold, but the sun shone brightly, and both sisters felt comfortable enough. Nor were they the only ones in the park. Plenty of people from all walks of life strolled along the pathways. In the area designated for riders, men and women in stylish riding costumes trotted their fine horses.

  “Cara would love to paint this scene,” Rosalyn observed. “Have you told her about my coming to London?”

  “Not yet. I wanted to hear everything from you first. She is easily distressed, and I wanted to ensure you were safe and happy before I gave her any information.”

  “That’s wise,” Rosalyn agreed.

  “Did you know she has taken a new position?”

  “No, I didn’t!” Cara’s inability to stay at one place was becoming a pattern. This would be her third position in as many years. “She’s no longer in Barnstaple?”

  “No, she is now a nursery maid for a family near Exeter. They have just one child, two years old. Apparently he is a rambunctious chap, but he amuses her, and she enjoys the work.”

  “Perhaps she has finally found her métier then,” Rosalyn said. “Heaven knows she wasn’t a good housemaid and even worse as kitchen help. Let us hope she remains happy there.”

  “Amen to that,” Julia agreed.

  “How long has she been there?” Rosalyn hated to think Cara might have stopped telling her of these changes out of embarrassment at having lost yet another position.

  “Only a few weeks. She probably did write to you, but the letter might have arrived after you left.”

  “I suppose I won’t get that letter now,” Rosalyn said ruefully. She loved receiving letters from Cara, who always seemed to have very colorful and unique ways of describing any situation. “Oh!” Her hands flew to her face. “I did receive it! It came the last afternoon I was at the Huffmans’.”

  Rosalyn hadn’t even had time to read it. She’d merely stuffed it into her carpetbag as she prepared for her hasty departure. Now it was lost, along with her other belongings. She’d had several letters from Julia in there, too. As precious links to her sister, she hadn’t had the heart to burn them or leave them behind.

  “And now she has them!” A new dread took hold of her, knowing that the names and addresses of where Rosalyn had lived, and those who were closest to her, had wound up in Mollie Hurdle’s hands.

  Her outburst had Julia looking genuinely alarmed. “Rosalyn, what has happened? You must start at the beginning.”

  Rosalyn told her everything.

  Julia was understandably appalled and did not hesitate to state her opinion of Mr. Huffman in vehement terms.

  “But what about the letters?” Rosalyn asked. “What if Mrs. Hurdle or Mick should somehow misuse them? They know Mr. Huffman is looking for me! And now they have his address! And yours, as well!”

  Julia took several moments to consider this. “No,” she said at last, shaking her head firmly. “Petty thieves aren’t likely to go tearing off to Bristol with no guarantee of getting anything for it. They only want cash or valuable items. I imagine they never even read the letters, just threw them into the fire as worthless paper. But if they were to come after me—” She waved her lemonade bottle like a sword. “I’ll happily put up a fight! Or turn them in to the police.”

  Rosalyn took comfort from Julia’s words. Perhaps she had nothing to fear after all.

  Julia took a last swallow from her bottle. “Still, something might have to be done. I’ll think on it some more.”

  “Such as?” Rosalyn asked, eager for her advice.

  “Well, for one thing, I might not leave a forwarding address when I move to London. Just to be on the safe side.”

  Rosalyn’s mouth dropped open in astonishment. “You’re moving here?”

&nbs
p; “As soon as I can arrange it.”

  “But why? I thought you loved your work at the hospital.”

  “Yes, but it’s not enough. I am bound for bigger things. God has opened the door for me to attend the London School of Medicine for Women. I have an appointment tomorrow with Mrs. Isabel Thorne, the dean of the school. She’s agreed to meet with me and discuss what will be required. I am going to become a real, licensed physician!”

  This announcement gave Rosalyn such a shock that she nearly forgot any worries about her own situation. She stared at her sister incredulously. “I thought only men could practice medicine.”

  Julia gave her the look she often used when they were children and she’d felt compelled to point out one of Rosalyn’s serious shortcomings. “Rosalyn, haven’t you been paying attention to the national news? Parliament passed a law three years ago granting all medical authorities the right to license women. I’ve wanted to come to London ever since. I began saving every penny I could, and I also followed our dear Mr. Müller’s example and lifted my need to God in prayer—without telling a single soul about it. My answer came by way of one of the orphanage’s most generous donors. Do you remember the Stauntons?”

  Still flabbergasted at this turn of events, Rosalyn struggled to keep up with her sister’s rapid speech. “The family who live in that beautiful mansion in Clifton?”

  “That’s the one. Last winter I nursed their youngest child through a terrible bout of influenza, and Mrs. Staunton became convinced I am a miracle worker.”

  “Well, aren’t you?” Rosalyn teased.

  Julia responded with a pleased grin. “Anyway, a week or so ago we happened to cross paths in the street. She asked me what I was up to, and I said I was preparing to go to the London School of Medicine for Women. Naturally, I said nothing about money. I merely answered her question—just as Mr. Müller showed us so many times. Well, right then and there she said to come ’round to her house the following day, and she would write me a check to cover my first year’s expenses. Can you imagine?”

  “That is amazing,” Rosalyn agreed.

  “I received your letter a few days later. I’m sorry for the terrible things you went through, but now I see that God has been putting everything in place—for both of us.” She turned her face toward the sun, still just visible above the high elms. “Oh, Rosalyn, I know we shall both love living here.”

  “So this interview with Mrs. Thorne—that is the business that brings you to London?”

  “Yes—aside from the important business of seeing you, of course. I am not a typical student. Many come from university backgrounds, not practical nursing like me. She wants to interview me about my qualifications and knowledge. Of course, I believe I am the perfect candidate because I already have so much experience. I have set those curmudgeonly old doctors straight a time or two.”

  “I don’t doubt that for a minute,” Rosalyn said dryly.

  “Well, they might have killed somebody if I hadn’t!” Julia replied passionately.

  Rosalyn could only shake her head in wonder. She found it hard to believe that any woman—even her intrepid sister—would want to be a doctor. “Does that mean you’ll be doing things like dissections and surgery?” She couldn’t keep the horror from her voice.

  “Rosalyn, you are such a squeamish thing. Just think how thrilling it would be to delve into the mysteries of the human body. You know the verse in Psalms that says we are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made.’”

  Rosalyn could not deny that.

  “Will you be able to come with me to the school tomorrow morning? I’d love for you to see it with me.”

  “That should work out fine. I don’t need to be at the theater until late afternoon.”

  “Excellent! The school is on Henrietta Street—do you know where that is?”

  “I’m afraid not. There is so much about the city I still don’t know.”

  “No matter. I have the map.”

  That was Julia. Ever the resourceful one. And Rosalyn was so glad she was here.

  CHAPTER

  14

  NATE SPENT THE MONEY on the omnibus to get home from the stable. Although fatigue seemed to be part of his life these days, he couldn’t recall feeling as absolutely bone weary as he did right now. Even his one day of rest had been denied him. Without it, the week ahead loomed ominously long.

  It didn’t help that several of the horses had been particularly ornery. It was a good thing for those horses that Nate had been working today. He knew Charlie would not have been as effective at calming them. They might even have done harm to themselves or to someone else. But this knowledge did nothing to ease his weariness.

  He had just gotten off the omnibus when he saw Rosalyn walking with a woman who must be her sister. His first thought was relief that she’d returned from her trip to the railway station unmolested. On top of everything else, he’d spent far too much of the afternoon worrying about her.

  He hurried to catch up to them, calling out Rosalyn’s name. Both women paused, turning in unison. He could see a similarity in their resemblance, although Rosalyn’s hair was a lighter shade of brown. Her features seemed softer, too. Maybe that was a reflection of their temperaments, given what Rosalyn had said about Julia being a “force to be reckoned with.”

  She was studying him now with alert, expressive eyes. She extended her hand. “I’m Julia Bernay. You are Nate, of course. I could tell from the way Rosalyn described you.”

  Her directness startled him. She was definitely a bolder sort than her sister. Another stray thought crossed his mind, wondering exactly how Rosalyn had described him. Whatever she’d said, it probably didn’t include clothes that reeked due to hours of grooming horses and mucking out stalls. He took a step back. “Please excuse me for not shaking hands. I’m rather dirty. But I am very pleased to meet you.” He did extend a hand toward her bag, however. “May I carry that for you?”

  “Please don’t trouble yourself. I am quite able to carry it.”

  This woman definitely had an independent streak in her. But if his time in the army had taught him one thing, it was that even self-sufficient ladies enjoyed a touch of chivalry now and then. Holding himself as though he were wearing a full dress uniform and not filthy stable hand’s clothes, he said, “Dear lady, I insist.”

  Gently but firmly, he pried the bag from her hand and was treated to an approving smile. Turning to her sister, Julia remarked, “Rosalyn, this man is every bit as polite and handsome as you told me.”

  “I never said he was—” Rosalyn began, then put a hand to her mouth in chagrin.

  Nate laughed outright, remembering how his family had put him in the same predicament. Now that the shoe was on the other foot, he took a perverse delight in seeing her embarrassment.

  Rosalyn remained silent the last few blocks to the Morans’ home. Not that her sister gave her much room to speak. Julia hit Nate with a volley of questions about the neighborhood and how far they were from Henrietta Street. As he answered, he kept throwing sidelong glances at Rosalyn. Her blush had faded, and now a simple, beautiful smile played around her lips. He attributed it to pride in her sister and the joy of having her here.

  There was no doubt in Nate’s mind that Rosalyn was the prettier of the two. He also found her warm gentleness more appealing. Julia seemed all starchy crispness and energy. He said, “My sister Mary will enjoy meeting you, I think.”

  Rosalyn laughed. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

  It did him good to hear her laugh. Perhaps he was not so tired after all.

  Mrs. Moran met them with a hearty greeting as soon as they came through the door. She even drew Julia into a welcoming hug, which Julia accepted with an amused smile.

  “Don’t leave them in the hallway all day, Ma,” Patrick called from the parlor.

  They crossed the hall to the parlor. Patrick was seated in his chair near the fire. Martha was playing with Tommy on the carpet. He lay on his stomach, propped up on
his little arms, his gaze following Martha’s hands as she played with four brightly painted wooden blocks in his line of vision. Hannah watched them from the sofa, where she and Mrs. Fletcher were both engaged in sewing tasks. Mary had been writing at the small desk, but she immediately set her pen aside and joined the others in greeting the newcomer.

  What a genial picture they make, Rosalyn thought, seeing them all gathered there in the large, welcoming room. As she introduced her sister to everyone, she was brimming with thankfulness at living with such a wonderful family.

  Nate hung back at the parlor door and soon excused himself to go upstairs and clean up.

  “Why don’t you take Julia to your room and get her settled?” Mrs. Moran suggested. “Dinner will be ready soon.”

  After assuring Mary they would be down again as soon as possible, Rosalyn led Julia upstairs.

  “Why, this is delightful!” Julia said, setting her carpetbag on the extra bed. “I do believe it’s larger than the dank little room I share at the boardinghouse in Bristol. And that window is perfectly placed to give light, even on winter days. That will be helpful for all the reading I’ll have to do for my course work.”

  As Rosalyn began to help her sister unpack, she said, “Just think how happy Cara will be to know we are together again!”

  Julia’s brows knit together. “Perhaps we should be cautious in how and when we tell her. Knowing Cara, she’ll immediately want to move here, too.”

  It was true their little sister could act impulsively. But Rosalyn also knew Cara’s greatest dream was that they should all be together again. “Would it be so terrible if she did come here?”

  “She ought not uproot herself again, not after she has finally found employment that suits her. There are no guarantees she’d find the same in London. And besides, there isn’t room for her here.” Julia indicated the small room.

  “We could always find another place.” But even as she spoke, Rosalyn knew she would hate to leave the Morans’ household.